Spaniel type, black male one, goes around following Helen, barking (8)
I believe the answer is:
blenheim
'spaniel' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'around following helen barking' is the wordplay.
'around' indicates putting letters inside.
'following' becomes 'bim' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'barking' indicates an anagram (UK slang for mad).
'helen' anagrammed gives 'lenhe'.
'bim' placed around 'lenhe' is 'BLENHEIM'.
'type black male one goes' acts as a link.
This may not be correct. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for blenheim that I've seen before include "Stately home at Woodstock" , "1704 battle; - - palace" , "Palace near Oxford" , "Palace built for the 1st Duke of Marlborough" , "Duke of Marlborough's seat at Woodstock" .)